I Like to People Watch
i took a sunday stroll on a beautiful, sunny afternoon. i walked through the park, observing the young skateboarders. across from the skateboarders, i observed the old homeless men sitting on benches, watching me as i watched them. as i crossed the street, i saw a young couple also crossing, holding hands, as if they had done it a thousand times. i have not done that once with my lover. not on a sunday afternoon. my heart ached at the image of them, so casual and nonchalant in their affection for each other.
i stood on a street corner, watching another young couple at the bus stop. she was very short and he was very tall, and they were very in love. they would talk, and turn, looking for the bus, and he'd pull her into his arms, and they would kiss, as if nobody was around, or watching. it was just the two of them...except for me, watching. i could tell they had been together for a long time, in the relaxed way they kissed, and touched each other. it wasn't new to them, but that did not take away the excitement of being together. they laughed together and hugged each other, her face leaning far up to look at him, and his head leaning down towards hers, noses rubbing. the bus came and took them away.
a mother and daughter appeared and crossed the street, into the park i had just been to earlier. the daughter was an adorable blonde girl of 6 or 7 years old; the mother seemed to be in her thirties, beautiful and fit. i wondered if she was a single mom, or was her husband at home, working? was he out with his friends, at a pub, drinking; on the couch, watching some sports' game? with his mistress; or just not there at all. they crossed the street, holding hands, and when they got to the other side, her young daughter wrapped an arm around her mother's waist, with the pure affection only a child can give. affection given freely, excused from judgment, and unbridled in its expression. it was as if the daughter's embrace of her mother was saying, 'i love you this much.' it felt that way to me, watching.
i could feel the tears building up, though i held them back, as i felt the love between this mother and daughter, as i felt the couples' enjoying their sunday afternoons together, as i felt that i wanted what these people had, what my observations had shown me- glimpses of their lives, snap shots of their moments.
maybe they won't even remember that sunday afternoon, but i will, as the observer, who felt privileged and touched to watch.
life is so full of beauty, it does a person good to stop and look around.
i stood on a street corner, watching another young couple at the bus stop. she was very short and he was very tall, and they were very in love. they would talk, and turn, looking for the bus, and he'd pull her into his arms, and they would kiss, as if nobody was around, or watching. it was just the two of them...except for me, watching. i could tell they had been together for a long time, in the relaxed way they kissed, and touched each other. it wasn't new to them, but that did not take away the excitement of being together. they laughed together and hugged each other, her face leaning far up to look at him, and his head leaning down towards hers, noses rubbing. the bus came and took them away.
a mother and daughter appeared and crossed the street, into the park i had just been to earlier. the daughter was an adorable blonde girl of 6 or 7 years old; the mother seemed to be in her thirties, beautiful and fit. i wondered if she was a single mom, or was her husband at home, working? was he out with his friends, at a pub, drinking; on the couch, watching some sports' game? with his mistress; or just not there at all. they crossed the street, holding hands, and when they got to the other side, her young daughter wrapped an arm around her mother's waist, with the pure affection only a child can give. affection given freely, excused from judgment, and unbridled in its ex
i could feel the tears building up, though i held them back, as i felt the love between this mother and daughter, as i felt the couples' enjoying their sunday afternoons together, as i felt that i wanted what these people had, what my observations had shown me- glimpses of their lives, snap shots of their moments.
maybe they won't even remember that sunday afternoon, but i will, as the observer, who felt privileged and touched to watch.
life is so full of beauty, it does a person good to stop and look around.
By:
wildf1ower
Age:
22-25
22
responses
